Matchbox construction



June 9, 1959 A. G. JANUS MATCHBOX CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 15, 1956 Had I la? M.M X m6 am I MA 0 MM H. mu

United States Patent MATCHBOX CONSTRUCTION Alexander G. Janus, Rochester, Minn., assignor to Consumers Merchandising Corporation, Rochester, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application February 15, 1956, Serial No. 565,604

1 Claim. (Cl. 206-29) This invention relates to a matchbox construction and more particularly to a foldable matchbook article.

It is an important object of the invention to provide a novel paper matchbook which has an integrally formed extension cooperating therewith, yet capable of being torn off to leave a properly covered matchbook.

It is another object of the invention to provide a useful combination of elements formed from a single strip of sheet material which constitutes a reinforced matchbook in folded relation and which is capable of multiple functions with the elements in both attached and separated forms.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a paper matchbook in which the sheath portion thereof is provided at one end with a separable extension, so constructed as to be foldable with the matchbook proper in its manufactured form and unfolded therefrom in its subsequent usable form.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description, made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the several views and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of my matchbook construction wherein the sheet extension is folded within the cover portion of the matchbox sheath;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the matchbook construction shown in Figure 1, the cover and extension being unfolded to flat relation to produce an attached postcard;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of another form of my matchbox construction wherein the sheet extension is folded into engagement with the outer surface of the cover and interlocked with the sheath;

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the form of matchbook construction illustrated in Figure 3, showing the sheet extension folded flat and outwardly, the extension being provided with fold lines and cuts and a portion of the sheath being cut away to expose inner portions of the construction; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the alternate form of Figure 3 wherein the sheet extension has been folded angularly with respect to the sheath portion of the matchbook and with the marginal edges of the extension folded and interlocked to form an ashtray.

With continued reference to the drawing, Figure 1 illustrates a form of my matchbox construction in which a portion thereof lies in fiat and reinforcing engagement when the matchbox is closed and which may be opened up and unfolded to form a separable postcard for advertising purposes and the like. Figure 2 shows the matchbook in open condition with the sheet extension unfolded. A plurality of matches are disposed in upstanding relation and preferably in row formation as is well known in the art. The base of the matches 11 is secured against a sheath 12 which, in turn, is constructed from an elongated sheet of material such as paper and arranged normally to encircle the upstanding "ice matches 10 with the end margins in overlapping relation. One end 13 forms the cover of the matchbox and the other end 14 may provide a striking surface and be folded with respect to the back or sheath 12 so as to encompass the base 11 and be fastened thereto by such means as the staple 15. An extension 16 is formed endwise of the sheath 12 and is preferably formed integral with the sheath 12 being joined thereto in a perforated fold-line 17. The extension 16 is again folded at a transverse and intermediate fold line 18 so as to lie in compact arrangement with the sheath 12, the attached area being designated as 19 and the outermost area of the extension being designated as 20. When folded as shown in Figure 1, the entire cover and folded extension may be inserted under the end margin 14 so that the cover is retained in closed condition and the perforated fold line 17 constitutes the lowermost edge of the cover, as viewed in Figure 1.

The form of matchbook construction illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is such that it may be handled, packaged and utilized in conventional manner except for such times as it is desired to form a postcard which can be separated and sent as a postcard. Thus, advertising in dicia 21 may be imprinted on the inside of the cover 13 or on any other convenient area on the sheath element 12 and the sheet extension 16, when folded out in flat condition, may have imprinted thereon a request for information or other suitable information 22 as well as the name and address of the advertiser imprinted at 23 as shown.

It will be noted that the extension 16 is formed as a part of a continuous strip of material including the sheath 12 so that the preparation of blank material from which the extension and sheet is formed is greatly simplified. Even though the areas 19 and 20 of the sheet extension 16 may be of insufficient area to qualify as a legal postcard, the combined areas may be selected to so qualify, it being merely necessary to flatten out the extension at the fold line 18 to produce the requisite card. The user may then fill in the return information 24 and separate the entire card 16 at the perforated fold line 17 following which he can mail the postcard in the conventional manner. Fold line 17 remains the lowermost edge of cover 13 and the matchbook may continue to be used until the matches 10 are all exhausted.

Another form of the invention is shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. In the alternate form, sheet extension 25 is joined endwise to the sheath 12a at fold line 17a defining the outermost edge of margin 14a as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. The extension sheet 25 may be provided with cut lines 26 and 27 at the respective sides thereof and with cut lines 28 at the outermost margin 29 of sheet 25, as shown in Figure 4. An opening 30 may be punched in sheet 25 and fold lines 31, 32 and 33 formed transversely of the sheet in the positions indicated. Fold lines 34 may be formed longitudinally of sheet extension 25 adjacent the side edges so as to interconnect the inner ends of the cut lines 26 and 27. A cooperating slot 35 may be cut through the sheath 12a as shown in Figures 3 and 4. When the sheet extension 25 is folded over against the outer surface of cover 13a, it will lie compactly thereagainst with end margin 29 extending over the top and back. The cut lines 28 form a tab 36 which can be inserted into the slot 35 to secure the sheet extension 25 in its compact folded relation.

When it is desired to use the form of invention which I have shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the sheet extension can be folded outwardly from the perforated fold line 17a and transverse fold line 31 so that the greater portion of the sheet extension 25 represented by the area 37 will lie substantially at right angles with respect to the cover portion 13a. The marginal tabs 38 are folded upwardly and manner previously described in connection with the first form of the invention until the matches 10a are exhausted. :Iere, again, it will be noted that the sheet extension 25 may be conveniently formed as an integral part of the sheath body, having the same width and being con-' structed of the same material as the sheath proper. The sheet extension is cooperatively interlocked with the sheath to form reinforcement therefor until such time as it is desired to unfold the extension and form it into an ashtray as described.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportion of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

A matchbook device comprising a match pack, an elongated rectangular strip of flexible sheet material folded in encircling engagement lengthwise about said match 4 pack and secured thereto at the base thereof, the end of said strip lying in overlapping relation to produce a cover retained at its margin by the overlapping margin of the other end, and an ashtray extension integrally and detachably secured at one of said ends to form a lengthwise continuation thereof having the same width as said strip and folded flatly thereagainst when not in use, said ashtray extension having pre-forrned fold lines longitudinally and transversely of the extension defining sides and end panels of the ashtray when folded into operative position, one end of the ashtray extension being provided with fold lines defining a cigarette-supporting platform, said platform having an aperture intersecting a fold line and forming a holding trough when folded into operative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 993,312 McDowell May 23, 1911 1,968,353 Potter July 31, 1934 2,157,740 Quinlan May 9, 1939 2,272,404 Firestone Feb. 10, 1942 2,623,686 Covan Dec. 30, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 743,280 Great Britain 'Jan. 11, 1956 

